Shloka 131

Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences

Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

प्रज्ञानं शौचमेवेह शरीरस्य विशेषत: । तथा निष्किंचनत्वं च मनसक्षु प्रसन्नता

Transliteration

prajñānaṁ śaucam eveha śarīrasya viśeṣataḥ | tathā niṣkiñcanatvaṁ ca manasaś ca prasannatā ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—ఇక్కడ ప్రజ్ఞానము మరియు శౌచము—ప్రత్యేకించి శరీరశౌచము—అలాగే నిష్కించనత్వము మరియు మనస్సు ప్రసన్నత—ఇవే సదాచార లక్షణములు; వీటిని అభ్యసించవలెను.

Word by Word

• प्रज्ञानम्: wisdom, discernment
• प्रज्ञानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• शौचम्: purity, cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• इह: here, in this world/teaching
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• शरीरस्य: of the body
• शरीरस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• विशेषतः: especially, particularly
• विशेषतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस्

• तथा: likewise, so also
• तथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• निष्किंचनत्वम्: poverty/possessing nothing, non-attachment
• निष्किंचनत्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्किंचनत्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मनसः: of the mind
• मनसः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• च: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अक्षु: of the eye
• अक्षु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षि
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्रसन्नता: clarity, serenity, cheerfulness
• प्रसन्नता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसन्नता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma highlights a cluster of ethical-spiritual qualities: discernment (prajñā), purity (śauca)—with emphasis on bodily cleanliness—non-possessiveness (niṣkiñcanatva), and a serene, clear mind (prasannatā). Together they describe the inner and outer discipline that supports dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. This verse is part of his didactic counsel, listing virtues to be cultivated as standards of righteous living rather than describing an external action scene.